Stewards' Mailing - November 2011

REMEMBER, YOUR FEDERATION IS JUST A CALL AWAY!

You may find the following provincial office contacts helpful:

• TO CHANGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS AT YOUR WORK SITE OR MAILING ADDRESS, PLEASE CONTACT: JAMES POINTS EXT. 2504
• TO INQUIRE ABOUT MAILING MATERIALS, PLEASE CONTACT: OLESIA ROMANKO EXT. 2517.

PDF Version

Here is the complete Stewards' Mailing in PDF format (2.5 mb). Feel free to forward this to others.

Collective Bargaining 2012 - Control Your Future 

The countdown to bargaining has begun. All collective agreements for ETFO's 76,000 members expire on August 31, 2012. While that date may seem far away, members can rest assured that ETFO has been hard at work preparing for the next round of collective bargaining.

ETFO’s overall goal for collective bargaining in 2012 is simple: to achieve collective agreements that reflect the value and professionalism of our hard-working and highly-skilled members. 

The most important part of ETFO's preparation for collective bargaining is creating a communications strategy that will keep each and every member in the driver's seat throughout the bargaining process. This month's steward mailing contains copies of a pamphlet that forms part of that strategy, which has been developed around the important message, Control Your Future.

The Control Your Future pamphlet highlights the importance of collective bargaining to ETFO members' professional and personal lives, and how ETFO will be communicating extensively with members to ensure they are informed about, and actively engaged in, the collective bargaining process.

Member engagement is critical to achieving success in ETFO's next round of collective bargaining, so please distribute a copy of the Control Your Future pamphlet to each ETFO member on staff. 

For more information please visit www.controlyourfuture.ca. Questions and requests for more pamphlets can be directed to Harold Vigoda, 416-962-3836, extension 2224, hvigoda@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

ETFO Awards 

Solidarity Study Group Registration Package

This multi-session program for women members will look at the connections between social justice and performance art. These sessions will be interactive, exciting, and innovative. 

The registration package is available here.

For more information, please contact Kelly Hayes, extension 2244, khayes@etfo.org, or Carol Zavitz, extension 2238, czavitz@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

Annual Meeting 2012

Plans for the 2012 Annual Meeting are under way. A copy of the application form for Assistants and Poll Clerks is included.  Please make additional copies if required. Visit the ETFO website regularly for information and forms related to participation in the Annual Meeting.

The deadline for submission of the following is MARCH 1, 2012:

• Information and forms to volunteer at the 2012 Annual Meeting as an assistant or poll clerk.

In December, local presidents will receive additional information related to the Annual Meeting as follows:

• Information and forms to apply for the parliamentarian team; and
• Information and forms to submit resolutions for inclusion in the 2012 Annual Meeting Booklet and subsequent debate at the 2012 Annual Meeting.

YOU CAN FIND ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION AND FORMS at www.etfo.ca > About ETFO > Annual Meeting.

For more information related to all aspects of the Annual Meeting, please contact Jim White, extension 2272, jwhite@etfo.org, or Jo-Anne Alzner, extension 2208, jalzner@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

ETFO Human Rights Statement Decal 

To promote ETFO's Equity Policies and Resources, the ETFO Human Rights Statement should be included on the inside front cover of the ETFO Reference Book. A decal has been provided for insertion in the 2011-2012 Reference Book. 

Community Resources and Services: Domestic Violence

Violence in the home can involve anyone, and finding community supports can be difficult.  Included in this mailing is a chart listing resources and services for those affected by violence in the home. It is suitable for posting where all members of the school community can see it. 

The chart already includes contact information for province-wide or web-based services, but it will be even more useful if you can do a little research and include contact information for local shelters and sexual assault centres/crisis lines in your community. 

For more information, please contact Carol Zavitz, extension 2238, czavitz@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

PRS Matters Volume #61 - Anger in the Workplace

This PRS Matters column discusses the importance of understanding anger and managing anger in self and others. Anger is a healthy emotion but if it gets out of control there can be serious professional and personal consequences. 

For more information, please contact Diane Balanyk-McNeil, extension 2287, dbalanyk@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

Call for Writers! - Junior/Intermediate Play-based Learning Resource 

ETFO Professional Services is seeking writers to contribute to a junior/intermediate play-based learning resource for teachers. Applicants should have extensive experience and knowledge in teaching junior/intermediate classrooms. 

The deadline for receipt of application forms and supporting documents is Monday, January 9, 2012. 

For more information, see the application package or contact Janet Millar Grant, extension 2236, jmillargrant@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

Think on Your Feet

This is a dynamic communications course for women aspiring to leadership positions at the local level, particularly in the area of collective bargaining. Think on Your Feet has two sessions in 2012. 

One session will be held on February 23 and 24, and the other session on May 10 and 11, 2012, at the ETFO office. Participants may register for one of the sessions. The registration deadline is January 16, 2012. Please share this registration package with members.

For more information, please contact Lynn McClean, extension 2209, lmcclean@etfo.org, or Rosemary Scheffer, extension 2242, rscheffer@etfo.org, at the provincial office. 

Call for Writers! - Anti-Islamophobia Workshop

ETFO is seeking members for a writing team to develop an anti-Islamophobia workshop for teachers to raise awareness about this topic. 

For more information visit the ETFO website, download the application form or contact Kelly Hayes, extension 2244, khayes@etfo.org, or Carol Zavitz, extension 2238, czavitz@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

Call for Writers! - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, (LGBT) Workshop 

ETFO is seeking members for a writing team to develop a workshop to bring LGBT awareness into primary classrooms. 

For more information visit the ETFO website, download the application form or contact Kelly Hayes, extension. 2244, khayes@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

Women's Collective Bargaining Conference - March 29 and 30, 2012 

Women who attend this conference will be participating in collective bargaining activities designed to build new skills and enhance existing skills. This dynamic conference is beneficial for women who wish to learn more about bargaining and build personal and professional skills. No experience is required. 

Stewards please bring this conference to the attention of women ETFO members. To attend the conference, please fill out this application form by February 29, 2012.

 For more information, please contact Lynn McClean, extension 2209, lmcclean@etfo.org, at the provincial office.